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Troy: Our Greatest Story Retold

Posted by Flashcad on 21 Sep 2021, 01:29

While The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 - 1859 and Scottish History from earliest times are without doubt my main focus of interest, and I have a large library on both subjects which are re-visited on a regular basis; coming a very close second are the Celtic, Germanic, Norse and Greek myths and legends, which have been a source of fascination since childhood.
I have been avidly awaiting the third release in Steven Fry's series on the Greek Myths, beginning with "Mythos" and then "Heroes", both of which I eagerly lapped up. Well, despite the present postal chaos caused by the pandemic, I finally got my hands on the latest book yesterday.
I've only just started on "Troy: Our Greatest Story Retold" but I'm already lost in Fry's engrossing and entertaining narrative.
If anyone else is interested in the Heroic Era of the Ancient Greeks then I would highly recommend this one:-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Troy-Greatest- ... 4463&psc=1
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Flashcad  China
 
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Posted by Ochoin on 21 Sep 2021, 08:29

Thanks for the recommendation.

The Bronze Age is my favourite historical period & Fry is more erudite & wittier than most on his worst day.

donald
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Ochoin  Scotland
 
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Posted by Flashcad on 21 Sep 2021, 09:18

Ochoin wrote:Thanks for the recommendation.

The Bronze Age is my favourite historical period & Fry is more erudite & wittier than most on his worst day.

donald


Donald, have you read Mary Renault's classic 2-book series about Theseus?
The King Must Die
and
The Bull From The Sea
Written in a very different style from that of Steven Fry's rather easy-going and highly entertaining manner, these two are utterly enthralling and cover the entire career of Athens most famous hero.
Renault also comes up with a logical and entirely believable, (albeit somewhat grizzly), reason why Theseus abandoned Princess Ariadne during the journey back to Greece after their adventures together on Crete.

This one is next on my reading list after "Troy". Not sure if it'll be any good, but willing to give it a try.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ariadne-Brilli ... 3869&psc=1
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Flashcad  China
 
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Posted by Bluefalchion on 21 Sep 2021, 12:10

You two might enjoy this one:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/322 ... f_the_Mist

Set in 479 B.C., it is about a Roman Mercenary who loses all short term memory because of an injury suffered in the battle of Plataea. He wanders through the Greek Isles and has to write down what happens so he can read it when he wakes up the next day to reorient himself.

He meets a lot of strange friends and enemies along the way, some possibly supernatural, if his notes can be relied on.
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Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
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Posted by Ochoin on 21 Sep 2021, 12:18

I was unaware of all of these. They all seem to have potential.

I have read Renault's books - they are great.

donald
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Ochoin  Scotland
 
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Posted by Harry Faversham on 23 Sep 2021, 09:14

'Warrior in Bronze' and 'A King in Splendour'?

:read:
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Harry Faversham  England
 
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Posted by Flashcad on 25 Sep 2021, 19:47

Harry Faversham wrote:'Warrior in Bronze' and 'A King in Splendour'?

:read:


Read them both -- pretty good.
George Shipway was an excellent author of historical fiction. His career in India probably gave him an advantage over the majority of those writing in the genre who didn't have his military background.
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Flashcad  China
 
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Posted by Harry Faversham on 27 Sep 2021, 12:50

It's just a shame they're hard to get hold of these days, and can be pricey if you prefer hardback.

:(
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Harry Faversham  England
 
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Posted by Flashcad on 27 Sep 2021, 15:35

Harry Faversham wrote:It's just a shame they're hard to get hold of these days, and can be pricey if you prefer hardback.

:(


Yes, the hardback editions are ridiculously expensive.
Conversely, the ebook versions for Kindle are reasonably priced.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/George-Shipway ... p_ebooks_1

Disappointing I can't get my hands on "Strangers in the Land" as an ebook though.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/058 ... bl_vppi_i8
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Flashcad  China
 
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Posted by Harry Faversham on 04 Oct 2021, 09:54

I've just started Steven Fry's 'Troy' and I'm liking his style already!

:-D
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Harry Faversham  England
 
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